Label.



No. 861,286. PATENTED JULY 30, '1907. G. B. HOWARD.

LABEL.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 17. 190e.-

3 n00 n foz Q Vi in cases UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. HOWARD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO HOWARD LABEL COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LABEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J'ul'y 30, 1907.

Application filed May 17,1906. Serial No. 317,380.

To all whomt't may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HOWARD, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new 7 and useful Improvements in Labels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animprovement in labels, and the object is to provide a device wherein the medium which carries the label subject matter becomes to all intents and purposes destroyed almost instantly, upon applying the label to the object upon which this subject matter is to be transferred, or imprinted so that the possibility of counterfeiting or reproducing the 'label surreptitiously by an unauthorized person is absolutely precluded.

With the foregoing object in view my invention comprises a medium of soluble gelatin reinforced upon the back with a plurality of strips of flexible material so placed that continuous unreinforced spaces intervene between them so that when the gelatin dissolves after the label subject matter has been transferred to the object to be labeled and the reinforcing strips have been removed -it would be impossible to accurately reassemble them in their original relations to one another in order to reproduce or counterfeit the original label.

My invention further consists'in certain novel features of constructions and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view.

of the obverse surface of the label. Fig. 2 is a. view of the reverse side. Fig. 3 is a section. Fig. 4 is a modification. I

The label comprises a sheet A of soluble gelatin, 'its composition being such that it is madeto dissolve and disappear from the moisture of the object to which it is applied or upon the application of a liquid if one should be used to apply it. This gelatin is non-poisonous, and is preferably transparent and adhesive. v

Toreinforce and strengthen the gelatin filmvariouxi means have been employed as disclosed in prior patents granted to me, but the present invention differs from those patents in the fact that the reinforcing mediumof my present invention comprises independent flexible strips B of paper or similar material, These may be variously placed, as to direction, distance and the like,.and while I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a diagonal disposition of the reinforcing strips,in Fig. 4 I have shown them disposed vertically and in the sev-- edges are parallel but this is not essential as the edges might be irregular and parallel or non-parallel as pre-- ferred, the essential feature of the invention being a reinforce made up of independent media, allowing continuous and unbroken intervening spaces therebetween so that when the backing shall have performed its function of strengthening and reinforcing the gelatin film, it becomes inert as it were with its further eificiency forever destroyed, precluding the possibility of re-use, as whatever of print remains upon these strips is fragmentary and disconnected, rendering it impossible for them to be either joined or spaced to re-produce a legend which would be either legible or intelligible.

While the adhesive quality of the gelatin is sufficient to cause the strips toadhere, my invention contemplates the use of adhesive material should it be desirable. Of course it is understood that the label subject matter is printed in reverse as heretofore on the obverse side of the label with indelible, transferable ink so' that when applied to the object to be labeled, the label subject matter reads forward in the usual-way.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided'a simple deviceforlabeling Government inspected meats and the like, which will perform its function instantly upon being applied, and having.

done that, lose its efliciency for re-use, thus preventing the possibility of fraud, counterfeit and deception.

More or less slight changes in addition to those set forth might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I- do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth, but:

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

.- '1. 'A label or transfereomprising a medium of soluble material and an open work reinforce composed of a plurality of separated and independent strips or pieces.

2. A label or transter'comprlsing'a soluble gelatin film, and a reinforce therefor, composed of disconnected strips of flexible material made to adhere thereto, and said label ortransfer having the label subject matter produced in reverse on one surface thereof inindelible, transferable ink. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of pwo subscribing witnesses.

GEO. E. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

H. C. Bsnnsno, A. A. Amman. 

